Finding motivation for whatever hard thing(s) you're facing in life can feel impossible. I've battled depression off and on in my life, and there are just days where the “I can't even” feelings are stronger and louder than everything else. I've learned, however, that if you cultivate a lifestyle of self-care and inspiration, even on the worst days you will be better off for it. Here are some quotes that have been inspiring me lately:

As part of fundraiser campaign started on Instagram by @jack_attacks_arthritis to support the research of Dr. Terry Wahls, I purchased the #IWriteMyOwnStory t-shirt. If you're Paleo, you're probably familiar with the incredible story of how Dr. Wahls reversed her own MS and went from being bound to a wheelchair to riding a bicycle, just from food, nutrient, and lifestyle support.

I used to be obsessed with making New Year goals. I would create endless amounts of lists, all centered around bettering myself, my life, my work, my body, and my mind. I generally did a great job of sticking to them during January, primarily because they were new and fun, but also because the winter weather kept me cooped up inside and there truly was nothing better to do.But every single year the resolutions began to fade by February, and by April, there was never a second thought given. Because life happened. Things changed, work got busy, diets became monotonous. By the end of the year, good things and bad things had happened, and the next January brought that same renewed desire to change things for the better. But still the same old cycle repeated, year in and year out.

Holidays are hard for many people for a wide range of reasons, but they're especially difficult for couples who have faced miscarriage or pregnancy loss. In a culture that doesn't readily discuss miscarriage, it can feel incredibly isolating to the woman mourning the loss of the child she never met. I know, because I'm one of them, and I personally know many others like me.

Our culture primes us for paranoia. With its 24 hour news networks and nonstop barrage of information from social media, our senses can easily get overloaded with tips and tricks and tidbits. This can be a great source for the betterment of our lives, but it can also allow a great deal of incorrect, bad, or flat out depressing "facts" to disrupt our lives.

Trying to get pregnant this year? Diet can play an important role in a woman's ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Nutrition plays a critical role in the development of the infant in the womb, and deficiencies that are present before pregnancy can have an impact on the health of both mother and baby. Whether you're battling infertility, thinking about trying for a baby this year, or already pregnant, the food that you eat can enhance the overall experience.

Read on to find out what foods are the best (and worst) for baby-making.

People like lists. I think that's one of the most basic facts of human nature. We like to have something laid out in an easy-to-read manner, with steps that are clear-cut and simple to implement.

For today, I'm going to give you five things you should stop doing to better your health. It could be subtitled, "How to be healthier without getting fanatic." In our jam-packed, crazy-chaotic society, we can have all the best intentions but zero time to work on them. Maybe even five steps seems too overwhelming to you. In that case, just pick one from the list, work on it till you've got it down, and then move on to a different one.

Well, here we are in another new year. The common thread for 2014 among many I talk to is that it was a hard year for one reason or another. Most have said that they want 2015 to be a better year, myself included. In 2014 alone I had 4 miscarriages. Not exactly a banner year for me, and I know many of you experienced many difficult things, too.

I've been struggling with an autoimmune disease for several years now. My 20's were spent more on being sick than being healthy. Yet every year I have told myself that "next year will be better." I have literally been banking on getting "back to normal" for the last several years, it's just that the magical year of health always seems to stay one year out.

about the author

Aimee McNew, MNT is a certified nutritionist and a writer who specializes in women's health, fertility, autoimmunity, and the Paleo diet. She is passionate about helping others find success through simplified nutrition.﻿ Her first book, The Everything Guide to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Healing Plan for Managing Symptoms Naturally released in October, and has been the #1 bestselling new release in gluten-free diets. Order it from Amazon!

﻿All opinions expressed on this site are strictly that: opinions. Nothing replaces the medical advice of your doctor. You are responsible for your own health.﻿